Out of the Blocks

We are excited to bring you our new weekly blog ‘Out of the Blocks’ from the world of Athletics Ireland. Each week, we will be giving you an insight into how we operate in the different areas of Athletics, from High Performance to Schools and Competitions.

If you would like to contribute to the blog or simply give us your feedback, please contact Nick Skelly at nickskelly@athleticsireland.ie

Athletics Ireland – Out of the Blocks

The Daily Mile – An initiative that can make long-lasting improvement to children’s health and wellbeing.  It’s as simple as that. Doing 15 minutes of activity a day has been proven to dramatically improve Primary School children’s physical and mental health. In other words, The Daily Mile can be one immediate answer to stemming the tide of childhood obesity.  And the best thing about The Daily Mile is that it is Free! All teachers have to do is take their class outside and encourage the children to walk, jog or run around the yard for 15 minutes every day- making this exercise a part of the school day.

Athletics Ireland has already this month seen 140 Primary Schools signing up for The Daily Mile, bringing our total to 295 participating Primary Schools nationwide. The feedback from school Principals. Teachers and Children has been hugely positive. Patrick Lowery, a teacher in St Brigid’s NS, Castleknock, told us how his class has discovered the benefits of The Daily Mile: “You can see improved focus and more settled behaviour in the classroom after children have had a chance to run. The mood in the classroom on running days is better and children seem more easy-going and happier”.

The Daily Mile Team at Athletics Ireland are hugely motivated and excited for the months ahead as we continue to promote The Daily Mile in participating Primary Schools all over the country, so watch this space!

If you are still wondering what The Daily Mile is all about and why Primary Schools should sign up, check out this video we shot in St. Mary’s NS Milltown: